Political Speculations on Monday intensified in Madhya Pradesh following a surprise meeting between Congress Stalwart and Member of Parliament Jyotiraditya Scindia and former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Two had a closed-door that went for over 40 minutes at Chouhan’s Residence. BJP throws weight before the 2019 general elections, assigns Vasundhara, Shivraj, and Raman National roles
Both the leaders – Scindia and Chouhan dubbed it a ‘saujanya bhet (courtesy meet)’, but also said that “the talks were good”-enough of a hint that their conversation was in the context of the current political situation in the state and the Lok Sabha polls ahead.
Chouhan replied to the media who gathered ouside his Residence, saying it was just a courtesy call. “Koi gila nahin, koi shikwa nahin, (I have no complaint or grudge),” he told reporters. Chouhan even came out of his residence to drop Scindia to his car.
“We met, we discussed” added three-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Scindia on the same tone while replying to scribe queries said, “I am not a person who lives with bitterness in relations throughout life. I believe in ‘raat gayi, baat gayi’. There is a tussle during elections, but it vanishes after results. We believe in taking everyone along”
He also confirmed that he will contest Lok Sabha Polls from his Guna-Shivpuri seat
The meeting, however, came at a time when BJP and Congress are trading charges over law and order issue, and chief minister Kamal Nath is away in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum.
However, BJP didn’t take miss a chance to take a jibe and claimed the meeting suggest rift within the Congress and Scindia is ‘unhappy’ after being sidelined by the party. “Such courtesy meetings have taken place between Chouhan and the CM and Chouhan and Digvijaya Singh as well, so why so much fuss within the Congress party? Even a courtesy call is upsetting the Congress leaders,” said BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal told news18.
Scindia who was among the frontrunners for the CM post in Madhya Pradesh had to face disappointment after party picked Kamal Nath over him for the top post.
On Other hands, three-time Chief Minister also got sidelined by Saffron party in the State. He was snubbed for Leader of the Opposition’s post and was also denied permission to take out Aabhar Yatra (gratitude journey) he had announced after the poll defeat. The party high command also made a move to keep him away from MP by appointing him as national vice-president – a less significant post for three-time Chief Minister.
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